Wellness travel is an increasingly popular travel trend, but there is quite a broad range in terms of what a “wellness getaway” could look and feel like. Selecting a destination (and accommodations) for your next wellness experience involves so much more than looking for the most beautiful, bucket list-worthy places. What one person considers relaxing + cup-filling could be completely different from the next person. When I evaluate a property to determine whether it would be a good fit for clients interested in a wellness experience, I’m looking at things like:

Proximity

Some travelers have a destination in mind where they’d like to travel to, and then they seek out a wellness-focused experience there. Others make their selections based on proximity and convenience. Maybe you know airports stress you out or flying becomes fun when you upgrade to business class. Or maybe a long road trip or train ride helps you unwind and decompress. How you arrive at your destination sets the tone for your trip, so it’s worth considering how (and how far) you like to travel when you’re evaluating destinations, especially for a trip whose primary goal is to inspire wellbeing.

Purpose

With interest in wellness travel growing among US travelers, there are lots of domestic and international experiences and accommodations to choose from. Determining your goals for your wellness experience will help us narrow down the best fit. The resorts we’ll consider for you will vary greatly depending on whether your goals are centered around longevity, nutrition + weight loss, biohacking, and other more clinical pursuits (typically considered “hard care”) as opposed to places that offer a beautiful spa, movement and meditation classes, and other thematic workshops such as moving through grief (“soft care”).

Programming

Do you want to participate in a more guided wellness experience or structured program? Or perhaps you’d rather select your treatments, classes, workshops, and other experiences from an a la carte menu. What sounds relaxing or reenergizing is different for every person, so it’s worth considering whether the structure of your day/week is aligned with your goals.

Property

Are you looking to travel to your destination during peak season, when it will be busiest and most expensive, but also when you’ll be able to take advantage of the full breadth of the property’s indoor and outdoor activities? “Offseason” travel can be a prime opportunity to save on your room rate and enjoy a quieter experience if you don’t mind forgoing some seasonal amenities or activities.

Inclusions + Amenities

Do you prefer to stay somewhere where you don’t have to think about the cost of meals, activities, spa treatments, or other experiences? Or would you rather pay as you go? You’ve got options for both, so it comes down to what feels most stress-free to you.

So, with all that in mind, here’s the roundup of our top 10 favorite hotels and resorts for wellness getaways in 2024.

Aman New York’s wellness facilities span 25,000 sq ft across 3 floors. The 9th floor features 7 treatment rooms, plus hair and nail salons, both of which can be rented out for private events or glam space. Every Aman New York guest receives a complimentary assessment from a physician onsite, and any medical aesthetics or IV treatments are provided in this space.

The 10th floor is entirely devoted to water, with the Instagram-worthy 65-foot lap pool being the main attraction. This is also where guests can experience Aman’s two unique spa house concepts: The Banya Spa House with its double treatment room (ideal for couples!), dry sauna, hot/cold plunge circuit, and vertical shower. Next door, the Turkish Hammam Spa House offers an elevated twist on the traditional hammam experience. Both spa houses are rented out for a minimum of 4 hours, with food & beverage included.

On the 11th floor, guests can enjoy the 24/7 gym with Technogym equipment (plus 2 squat racks), yoga studio, reformer pilates studio, cryotherapy chambers, complimentary Theraguns, heated infrared light body rollers, and infrared light treadmill that burns 2x the calories.

BodyHoliday wastes no time in getting straight to the point – it’s all in the name. This is an all-inclusive wellness getaway destination on the northwest end of St. Lucia. If you’ve tried domestic all-inclusive wellness retreats like Miraval or Canyon Ranch and are looking to take your next wellness vacation in a more tropical location, BodyHoliday should be on your radar. The good news? You can still enjoy a margarita on the beach after your sunset yoga. Their mantra is “Balance, Not Abstinence”, and having fun and enjoying yourself is part of BodyHoliday’s recipe for holistic wellbeing, making it an equally enjoyable destination for solo travelers, couples, and girls trips.

Before arriving, guests complete a pre-arrival consultation to start crafting their individually tailored itinerary. The treatment list is incredibly extensive – with more than 40 activities are included per day – but some highlights include:

• A 50-minute spa treatment each day
• Infrared sauna
• Iridology
• Body wrapping
• Facials
• Thalassotherapy
• Acupuncture
• Ayurveda
• Mindfulness
• Tai Chi

Visit when you’ve got a break in your schedule, or prioritize a trip to BodyHoliday during one of their themed months, like Spring Sail, September Solos, and the Pre-Christmas Restorative Break. They’ll often bring in professional practitioners, athletes, dancers, sailors, and sports stars to present these special themes.

Specialized retreats aimed at wellness rehabilitation, sleep recovery, immunity-boosting, and breathwork are also offered. Fully customized retreats, like for corporate groups, can also be arranged.

Where else on Earth can you find a private island entirely dedicated to promoting health + wellbeing?! The answer is quite literally nowhere else besides JOALI BEING, a one-of-a-kind wellness concept designed for reflection, exploration, and self-growth. Their goal? For guests to experience “weightlessness” – the unmistakable feeling of freedom, lightness of spirit, and joy.

Surrounded by ethereal lagoons and brimming with lush coconut palms, JOALI BEING’s secluded island is tucked away in the far northern reaches of the Maldives. Situated on Bodufushi Island in Raa Atoll, guests have the opportunity to explore sound therapy in the indigenous forest, meditate above the tranquil waves, and join the daily sunset ritual on ivory sand beaches

Unlike a spa resort, where guests can book individual treatments, JOALI BEING creates personalized Wellbeing Programs based on the unique goals and concerns of each guest. For each program, guests choose from a 5, 7, or 10 night stay, with each individual itinerary in JOALI BEING’s 4 pillars of wellness: Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. Because every guest’s experience is individually customized, a vacation at JOALI BEING is ideal for couples or groups who might want to discover different experiences while traveling together.

Targeted wellness programs for deep relaxation, stress recovery, digestive reset, weight management, preventive skincare, reverse ageing, energy replenishment, and yoga enhancement are offered, as well as expert-led retreats and programs specifically geared towards mothers-to-be, women, men, couples, and guests facing sleep issues.

We can’t not mention their 68 stunning overwater and beachfront villas, called “Well Living Spaces”. Each comes with a private pool, butler service, and special inclusions, like customized Wellbeing Bar setups, meditative musical instruments, and wellbeing games.

Located almost 6,000 feet above sea level, Forestis in Brixen, Italy, is a gorgeous wellness getaway in the Dolomites with a focus on offering an exquisite blend of luxury and nature. This mountain retreat is designed to harmonize with its natural surroundings, using local trees and stone both in the architecture of the building itself and the spa treatments. Their wellness philosophy centers around their 4 foundations: pure spring water, fresh mountain air, abundant sunshine, and mild climate—integrating these natural resources into its comprehensive wellness programs.

The extensive wellness offerings at Forestis include a variety of treatments and activities designed to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The resort’s spa features an indoor/outdoor pool, a sauna, silence rooms for promoting good sleep, a Wyda (Celtic yoga) room, fitness room, and treatment rooms designed to remove all distractions. It’s luxurious simplicity at its best.

Forestis is ski in/ski out, giving you access to the Plose Ski Region, but you can also enjoy the Dolomites while snowshoeing, hiking and biking, either on your own or with a guide. 

And, of course, the culinary experience at Forestis is not to be missed. The restaurant is terraced, so each table has a panoramic view of the surrounding forests and sunsets over the Dolomites through floor-to-ceiling windows. Forestis is overall a perfect mountain escape for anyone wanting to slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy some phenomenal food along the way.

Of all the wellness getaways recommended on this list, the brand new SHA Mexico takes the cake for being the most clinical, data-driven wellness experience. Building off of the pioneering work at SHA Spain, SHA’s newest location opened with the mission of extending and enhancing guest’s lives so they can enjoy their full physical, mental, and spiritual potential.

First-time guests select from a menu of integrative programs, like Rebalance + Energize, Leader’s Performance (hello, high-functioning workaholics!), Well-Ageing + Prevention, and Detox + Optimal Weight. The SHA method utilized in each of these programs is based on 9 holistic disciplines: Advanced Preventive Diagnosis, SHA Healthy Nutrition, Well-ageing Medicine, Holistic Health, Brain Health, Advanced Aesthetic, Well-being & Inner Balance, Physical Performance, and Healthy Living Academy. Most programs start at 4 or 7 days and kick off with robust diagnostic testing, typically including body composition analysis, oxidative stress test, cognitive domain test, and bloodwork. Scroll through SHA’s brochure and you’ll find treatment and protocols you’ve never even heard of: the Telomeric Assessment to determine your biological age, advanced plasma renewal to remove pathogens from the blood, and brain photobiomodulation, which is used to encourage cell repair following traumatic brain injury, chronic stress or fatigue, and depression. Seriously cutting edge!

For travelers looking to make significant lifestyle and health changes – or to proactively sustain optimal health – SHA Mexico is the most advanced clinical setting on this side of the Atlantic. It’s no surprise that SHA has an exceptionally high repeat guest rate, with many guests returning every year to do their annual “check-up”.

When 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay opened in December 2022 after a $300 million renovation, it instantly became Kauai’s most luxurious hotel. Located on the beachy shores of Hawaii’s most lush island, with the waterfall-striated Hihimanu, Nāmolokama, and Māmalahoa mountains in the distance, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay checks every box for an unforgettable Hawaiian vacation.

Kauai is well-known for its adventure activities, like hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, surfing, and helicopter touring. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has all that, of course, but takes its offerings to the next level with Within Wellbeing, a peaceful escape on the resort, which gives you the option to totally customize your experience through custom multi-day retreat itineraries specifically designed for your wellness goals. Their focus is teaching new routines and practices that can easily be integrated into your daily life when you depart the resort. 

As part of Within Wellbeing, the hotel’s Bamford Wellness Spa could be described as truly transcendent. Originally created by Carole Bamford, an organic pioneer dedicated to sustainable and holistic living, the spa has a wide range of Hawaiian plant medicine treatments, massages, and facials. A menu of touchless therapies is also available, including:

• Ocean float room
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Somadoma meditation pod
• Steam and traditional wet saunas
• Infrared sauna
• Cryobuilt chamber

As a luxury travel advisor, clients often come to me asking for a vacation they won’t need a vacation from. I get it – travel can be stressful! 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is an excellent option if you’re looking for a blend of active experiences, nourishing food, and exceptional spa treatments. Even better if you’d like to bring your kids: the hotel’s Aloha Camp offers cooking classes, ukulele lessons, and outdoor activities that focus on exploring the natural world. With the wide range of activities for guests of all ages and interest levels, this is the perfect place to bring your family and still make sure you get your much-needed relaxation and rejuvenation. 

This might be the US’ most expensive and exclusive wellness getaway, but there’s no shortage of wellness-seekers keen on dropping $12k+ for a week at Golden Door. Rates at Golden Door are all-inclusive, meaning your daily meals (dinner is a 3-course meal!), fitness and mindfulness classes, workshops, and roundtrip airport transportation are included. Oh, and you’ll also receive a daily massage, personal training, detailed skin analysis and treatments, herbal body wrap, manicure and pedicure, and a hair treatment during your stay!

Drawing on inspiration from the elegant simplicity of Japanese Zen gardens, Golden Door’s 600 acres of native hills, meadows, and 25 miles of hiking trails offer guests endless opportunity for slowing down in nature. There are endless classes you have the option to sign up for: every kind of yoga, pilates, fencing, Zumba, archery, spinning, boxing, water fitness, and the list goes on and on. With a staff to guest ratio of 5:1, every need is met without interruption or delay.

When scheduling your visit to Golden Door, note that most weeks every month are Women’s Week, with the last week of the month serving as a CoEd Week. A few weeks every quarter are designated as Men’s Weeks. All stays begin on Sundays, and rooms are single occupancy, further encouraging guests to use this time to turn inwards.

If you’re the person always taking care of everyone else in your life, or if you want to take a break from making any decisions for a week, Golden Door is the place to go to finally have someone taking care of you. It just might be the exact reset you need to return to your normal life with a renewed sense of balance, focus, and purpose.

If you haven’t been to Sedona, Arizona, to experience the world-famous energy vortexes and cosmic forces that are said to radiate from the red rocks, add it to your list. Located in Boynton Canyon, one of the five most well-known vortexes, Mii amo is a destination resort and spa that initially opened in 2001, but then reopened in early 2023 after a $40 million renovation. The vibe is serene, calm, and quiet – perfect for taking in the stunning landscapes and recalibrating internally.

Mii amo’s all-inclusive “Journeys” always begin with a single intention, like Connection, Solace, Discovery, Indulgence, or Recharge. Based on the intention you select, your personal Journey Guide will recommend specific services. So a getaway focused on Solace might feature Energy Clearing, hiking under the stars, reiki, and Swedish massage. Guests can choose from a 3, 4, 7, or 10-night Journey, but packages always include 3 daily mails, fresh juice/smoothie/coffee/tea (plus the juice bar turns into a wine. bar in the evenings), taxes and gratuities, and all consultations, lectures, specialty programming, and fitness classes. Depending on your length of stay, you’ll receive a daily credit to be applied towards the spa and wellbeing treatments of your choosing (and if you book through Tretter Travel, we can get extra $$$ credits for you).

One preconception about all-inclusive resorts – regardless of whether or not they’ve got a wellness focus – is that the food will be lacking, either in variety, quality, quantity, or all of the above. As a Relais & Chateaux resort, Mii Amo’s culinary offerings are anything but average. And if you’re craving time in Sedona but an all-inclusive wellness getaway isn’t quite what the doctor ordered, consider Mii amo’s sister property, Enchantment.

The Ranch Malibu is well-known for its award-winning highly structured daily program that promotes sustainable detoxification and reconnection with nature. In an intimate group of no more than 25 guests, and a distraction-free environment where phones are not allowed, The Ranch’s 7, 9, or 14-day results-oriented health programs focus on meeting guests’ fitness, nutritional, health, weight loss, and mental wellness goals, so you can expect noticeable changes during your stay. Since programs are a group experience, you’ll either begin on a Saturday or Sunday.

The daily schedule typically looks like: wakeup and morning stretches, breakfast, either a 2- or 4-hour group hike, freshen up and lunch, naptime, strength classes, yoga and complimentary daily massage (you’ll need it after those long hikes!), free time, dinner, then bedtime. The organic and exclusively plant-based cuisine is a key component to The Ranch’s immersive wellness experience, with most of the ingredients being grown on-site or at nearby farms. 

For wellness-seekers with very specific goals in mind, or just in need of structured detachment from their everyday life, this luxurious Santa Monica retreat is the perfect place to reset your health, enjoy an active girls trip, and unplug from the incessant distractions of your everyday life. And if Malibu is a bit too intense, consider The Ranch Hudson Valley‘s 4 or 5-day programs.

While these are some of our top recommended wellness getaways, we specialize in connecting our clients to the best-fit experience for their goals. Interested in working together to book your hotel/retreat or plan your next wellness vacation? Submit an inquiry to get the ball rolling.

Where have you been to relax + recalibrate and LOVED?